Mildred Pierce is an engrossing deconstruction of American society. Much as Raymond Chandler portrays the dark, seamy side with classic noir tropes, Cain does the same with a more intimate, domestic setting and characters.

Mildred is both admirable and pitiable, a tragic heroine who is brave, strong and resolute, but at the same time needy, vulnerable and devious. We are drawn into this world of noir-ish characters, where the brutal and crass side of the American dream is ruthlessly exposed in all its ugliness.

Mildred’s daughter Veda is a masterful creation of brutal narcissism, playing a type of femme-fatale role, though unusually, playing off her mother rather than a male character. This creates extraordinary tension, drama and poignancy. Veda is her mother’s equal as a complex and contradictory character and surprisingly she at times warrants reader sympathy as we see her exploit and be exploited by a society utterly lacking in morals.

Mildred Pierce is not an easy read. It is very intense and psychologically confronting. But it is fascinating and rewarding and a great place to begin to explore Cain’s oeuvre.
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